Chance Manufacturing Company, Inc., was founded by Harold Chance in Wichita, Kansas. It all started with a C.P. Huntington™ train, today there have been over 430 trains produced.
Chance Rides family-owned companies have been dominant
producers of amusement ride-related equipment for decades.
1961
1963
The Trabant amusement ride, produced by Chance Manufacturing Company, Inc. starting in 1963, was a very popular spinning, tilting platform ride.
1966
Skydiver was a ride previously produced by Chance Manufacturing Company, Inc. The ride was comparable to a ferris wheel with vehicles that could rotate as they revolved around the structure.
1968
The Zipper was created by Joseph Brown with Chance Manufacturing Company, Inc. in 1968 in Wichita, Kansas. The ride has amassed a cult following over its decades in operation, and was named by Popular Mechanics as one of the strangest amusement park rides in the world.
1970
Dick Chance started with the company in 1970, after graduating from college. (Photo Dick and Harold Chance)
1970
Chance Manufacturing Co., Inc. purchased the assets of the Allen Herschel Company. At the time, Allan Herschel was the largest manufacturer of amusement rides in North America. This acquisition allowed the company to increase its product line to include carousels.
1971
Harold Chance organized the first amusement ride safety seminar that continues today as AIMS, the Amusement Industry Manufacturers & Suppliers, International.
1973
The 1970s and early 80s were a period of rapid innovation and creativity for Chance Manufacturing, including the development of the classic YO-YO.
1985
Harold Chance retired from Chance Manufacturing Company, Inc. Later, his son Dick Chance formed Chance Industries, Inc., with subsidiaries Chance Rides, Chance Coach and Chance Engineering. (L to R Harold, Mike, Dick Chance)
1989
Chance Manufacturing experienced impressive growth, expanding its product line to include ornate carousels, and urban transit buses, notably the Replica Streetcar bus.
1998
Mike, Dick’s oldest son, joined the company and helped expand the theme park side of the business. His influence and drive allowed the company to begin building rollercoasters. (L to R Dick, Harold, Mike Chance)
2001
The early 2000s was the period of thrill ride growth for Chance Rides. In 2001, Michael acquired the roller coaster designs of D.H. Morgan Manufacturing in California and formed Chance Morgan Coasters, Inc. The manufacturing was moved to its Wichita headquarters while engineering remained for a time in California. Michael served as Chance Ride’s president until he passed away in 2016.
2004
Chance American Wheels, LLC teamed with European partners to produce R60 (60 meters high) Observation Wheels, holding exclusive rights to the design for North America.
2011
Celebrating 50 years of the family in the amusement ride business, in 2011 the Chance Rides name was reintroduced.
2016
Dick’s second son, John Chance joined the business, working alongside Michael in the engineering and development of new products before Michael’s passing that same year. John led the effort to convert the C.P. Huntington Train from internal combustion to fully electric, dramatically increasing sales.
2017
Aaron Landrum joined the company as President & Chief Operating Officer, strengthening leadership for continued growth. Following Dick Chance’s retirement in 2023, Landrum assumed the role of President and Chief Executive Officer.
2023
Dick Chance retired after selling Chance Rides Manufacturing, Inc., to Missouri-based Permanent Equity.
2025
Chance Rides, LLC is accelerating global growth through partnerships with international manufacturers and vendors, while expanding its offerings—starting with the all-electric eTRAM™, developed with EVX Mobility™ to provide a clean-energy guest transportation solution that cuts operating costs and advances sustainability.
Today
Today, the Chance Rides legacy continues—rooted in innovation, strengthened by new ownership and supported by Permanent Equity’s long-term approach to growth and stability. The company proudly operates at the same facility Harold Chance started in, spanning 250,000 square feet. It currently employs 130 skilled workers, from welders to artists, many serving Chance Rides for more than 35 years.
GENERAL INQUIRES
Chance Rides Sales and Marketing Office
4200 W. Walker St.
Wichita, KS 67209 TEL (316) 945-6555
Chance Rides Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 12328
Wichita, KS 67277-2328
GENERAL INFORMATION
For general information regarding Chance Rides, please contact us at: sales@chancerides.com
Please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page before submitting your e-mail. If your question falls into one of those categories, you will not receive a reply.
NEW RIDE INFORMATION
CHANCE RIDES – FORMER DH MORGAN RIDES, PARTS AND SERVICE
INTERNATIONAL INQUIRIES
Contact: International Sales TEL 1-(316)-789-7712
jay.aguilar@chancerides.com
PARTS / SERVICE
Chance Rides
P.O. Box 12328
Wichita, KS 67277-2328 USA
TEL 316-942-7411
service@chancerides.com
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